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Chapter 4: Daily Rhythms and Chapter 5: Sabbath (Time is important, but…
Chapter 4: Daily Rhythms and Chapter 5: Sabbath
Time is important, but why?
Bottom line: At the end of the day, Jesus wants to be a part of your life. He's not going to force his way in. The choice starts with you
God wants to get to know us personally. He wants us to know him personally as well
The only way to grow closer to someone is to spend time with them
Imagine a romantic relationship that you've had... or any close relationship that you have
Room analogy, can't get in Revelation 3:20 - Behold I stand at the door and knock..
Too much stuff in the room that he can't open the door
questions? what are you doing right now? is it actually important
Too much noise that you can't hear his voice
whose voices are you listening to? Are they good influences in your life? Are you creating space to listen to God?
Jesus can get into the room
Maybe you've let him in before. But does he "hold the keys" to your heart"?
How often do you open the door for Him? Only when times are bad and need help? Do you ignore his knocks?
Intro: Story about GLOW Ministry
Point: Doing for God is not the same as being with God
Cup analogy
Daily Rhythms with God
Purpose
It's so easy to start the day thinking about all the things that we need to do
Story of a typical morning without devotional
Starting every day with God helps us to realign our will with His will
Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who are weary, and I will give you rest
It provides a daily pause for us to be with God and spend time with Him
Different ways/elements of a devotional life
Prayer
Time to be honest and transparent with God
Teach ACTS prayer format
Adoration
Giving thanks to God for who he is
Confession
Acknowledge and ask for forgiveness for the sins in your life
Ask God to reveal in you what is not of Him
Thanksgiving
Supplication
Indifference to everything but God's will
God is not Santa Claus or the genie. Don't treat prayer like going to the lottery machine expecting a jackpot
Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.
Studying the Word
Practical applications
Lead through a topical bible study
At end, suggest setting a reminder every day to look through what you learned that day
Study is a way for God to renew you mind and heart
1 Corinthians 2:14 - but the natural man..
Silence before God (MAYBE)
Psalm 46:10: Be still and know that I am God
Put our worries, concerns, problems aside
Listening to spiritual songs
At the end of the day, devotional life is intentional connection with God. That connection can be done in different ways, so don't feel trapped by doing a particular way
what is a devotional?
Devotional is intentional time spent communing with God
Quality of time versus quantity of time
Time might increase or decrease, depending on day, situation, current situation in life
DAILY RENEWAL
Don't ride the waves of spiritual experiences
Bible Camp, or other miscellaneous spiritual times
Importance of daily over just going to church
We can't handle a lot of spiritual input if we don't have daily spiritual input. Like eating a lot after a fast
Sanctuary morning and evening sacrifice
Lay
yourself down at the beginning and the end of the day
integrate into points
Pick up our phones, not our cross
Lay down our .. not our burdens
Quote Alex N.
Sabbath
Introducing the Sabbath Concept
Stories
Russia Communist Party
Source:
http://www.godward.org/archives/Special%20Articles/7-Day%20Cycle.htm
French Revolution
Biological Evidence
weekly rhythms or circaseptan rhythms
Campbell: Winston Churchill's Afternoon Nap SOURCE
http://www.godward.org/archives/Special%20Articles/7-Day%20Cycle.htm
examples
Immune reaction
rejection of kidney
blood pressure fluctuation
Three main points. 24 hr block of time.
Rest and Sanctuary
Restoring broken ties with God
Restores broken ties with humanity
Weekly vacation: Peter Scazzero
Rest/Sanctuary
Sanctuary time frame: 24 hours
God has allowed a 24 hr period in time that nothing else should touch
Genesis 2:3 consecrated/set apart
Exodus 20:4: Commanded by God, calls the Isrealites to remember
Sanctuary is a safe place
We cease to do work that benefits ourselves
Deuteronomy 5:15. No longer slaves
Refuge: A period of time that protects us from the daily grind
Nothing is allowed to compete with our attention other than God and His pleasure
A space for restoration
Restoring broken ties with God
Different ways to restore connection with God
Worshipping God in community
Day alone with God
Taking extended time to sort through your thoughts and feelings with God (in next chapter)
deepening of social bonds between man and God take place
to restore connection with God, we need to set aside the things that don't point toward him
Secular music, movies
Restoring ties with others
Isaiah 58:6
fast: one day a week, stop focusing on taking care of your worldly pleasures and take this time to reach out to others
Fasting involves replacing certain things of the flesh with what God wants??
When you take time to focus on restoring connection with others, God will be more inclined to listen to you (Isaiah 58:9)
Examples
Those who you have wronged
Talk to those who have wronged you
Reach out to someone you know is going through a rough time
Help those who are poor, impoverished
1 )
concept of restoration
1
) workout example
Rest day: a day not focused on progressing but on resting and letting your body recover or restore to full health
After hard workout, body responds with increased inflammation to help you recover
Too much exercise, inflammation leads to weakening of the immune system
Analogy: During the week, we do many productive things. These things are good for our well-being and benefit us.
There can be too much of a good thing. We need space to recover and allow for restoration.
Source:
https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/why-science-says-you-should-take-more-rest-days-ncna822941
3) Sabbath commandment surrounding the commandments of loving God and loving others
Focusing on not severing our ties with God and others
Definition: return to a former condition or position
God is calling us in Sabbath to dedicate time to restoration
Sabbath creates a space where we can taste the full effects of restoration: an eternal life with God
Joshua Heschel quote
Jesus spent the Sabbath healing others and providing restoration
Sabbath is meant to be CREATIVE and healing.. look at this phrase
IDEA Vein
healing/recovery time on all levels
physical, mental, social, spiritual
Explore CRASH concept
FASTING increases effectiveness of all that you've done.. explore the concept of fasting
Fasting allows the things you've done to take its course
Assuming that you've been feeding on God daily
Putting into action the things you've learned from the week
Putting thing in the box